Fall 2019/Fuller Online

MR550

Tieszen

MR550: INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM (4 Units: 164 hours). Charles Tieszen.

DESCRIPTION: A foundational course, covering the emergence and development of Muslim faith and practice by journeying through Islam’s defining stages of development. The course will look at Islam’s main components both thematically as well as by an exploration of its varieties of expression. Implications for Christians living and working among Muslims, as well as for the advancement of good Christian-Muslim relations will remain the driving concerns.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By taking this class, students will (1) Acquire an authentic insider’s understanding of Islam as a basis for further specialized study and ministry; (2) Overcome prejudices and assumptions resulting from misinformation today between Christians and Muslims globally; and (3) Develop a faithful Biblical way to think and act Christianly towards Islam and Muslims.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will provide students with further opportunity to develop and/or master skills in integrating theological and missiological content with life experience and context through engaging a variety of approaches related to the study of Islam and the ways in which Christians think about Muslim beliefs and practices, which is consistent with the SOT/SIS PLO “Students will demonstrate critical thinking and integration skills in order to foster individual and social transformation” and “Students will demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity for building relationships and for communicating the Gospel in context” (Mdiv, MAT, MATM, MAICS).

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,479 pages required.

Abdul Khabeer, Su’ad. Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States. New York University Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1479894505, Pub. Price $30.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library and from Amazon.com [273 pp.].

Hillenbrand,Carole. Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective. Thames & Hudson, 2015. ISBN: 978-0500291580, Pub. Price $46.75. Available as an e-book from Amazon.com [314 pp.]

Mattson, Ingrid. The Story of the Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. ISBN: 978-0470673492, Pub. Price $32.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [312 pp.].

Renard, John, ed. Islamic Theological Themes: A Primary Source Reader. University of California Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0520281899, Pub. Price $39.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [480 pp.].

Reading as assigned by the professor [100 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING AND REFERENCE WORKS:

Guillaume, Alfred. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sīrat Rasūl Allah. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0196360331, Pub Price $45.00.

Reynolds, Gabriel Said. The Emergence of Islam: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective. Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800698591, Pub. Price $39.00.

Tieszen, Charles. A Textual History of Christian-Muslim Relations. Fortress Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-1451490268, Pub. Price $44.00.

Tieszen, Charles. Theological Issues in Christian-Muslim Dialogue. Pickwick Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-1532610585, Pub. Price $22.00.

Yusuf Ali, A. An English Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. Lushena Books, 2001. ISBN: 978-9694320007, Pub. Price $29.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,479 pages required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2]. [80 hours].
  2. Watch videos from professor introducing weekly topics and summarizing interactions and materials from the week [20 hours].
  3. Write one 250-word forum post for each week of class (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #] [10 hours].
  4. Write two weekly forum responses (250 words total) to each week’s forum posts (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #] [10 hours].
  5. Write a 500-word interactive review on each of the required textbooks (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2]. [16 hours].
  6. Visit a local masjid (mosque or Islamic center) for a guided tour and/or jum‘ah service (Friday prayers). If there is no masjid in your area, an alternative assignment can be arranged with the professor. Write a 750 word reflection essay based on your visit (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3]. [4 hours of DLAs].
  7. Write one 3,000-word research essays on the following question: “Who is Muhammad and What Say You about Him?” Your essay must represent Muslim perspectives honestly and accurately as well as demonstrate your ability to critical engage the topic. You must also demonstrate your ability to begin to use Islamic sources (i.e., Qur’an, Hadith, and Sira) and to engage the themes in such a way as to suggest how bridges can be built between Christians and Muslims. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3]. [24 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C1 and C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.